Meeting Place: Oregon Country Settlement (living history village), 73370 East Buggy Trail Lane [behind the Still Creek Inn (formerly the Alpine Hut Restaurant)], in the Village of Rhododendron in the Western Foothills of Mount Hood.

This 28th annual celebration is a free, festive gathering held on Mount Hood that features two special events associated with the history of the Oregon Trail, where it traversed around the Mountain's southern flank. This gathering will take place at a former logging camp that was established along this heritage path, that has now been transformed into a living history village. .

On Sunday afternoon, visitors will gather at the "Oregon Trail Christmas Village" from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Featured is a traditional holiday festivity held at a pioneer village along a section of the Barlow Trail [i.e., the Willamette Valley-bound emigrantÕs route over the 1295-foot Mount Hood] with reenactors, dressed in period clothing, allowing visitors to listen in to conversations that would have taken place back in time, interpreting this Winter holiday as it was in our past, making it an ideal event for adults and children alike. There will be traditional Christmas caroling, Native American flute and pioneer flute music, free Christmas goodies and hot drinks. This is also an opportunity to shop for unique historical and nature books, Huckleberry and other Wildberry jams, and specialty products made from this wildland bounty, that would be ideal for gifts..,.especially for those who are hard to buy for. And, naturally, Santa Claus will be there on duty from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The main feature, however, is "Christmas Tales of Old Oregon" at 2 p.m., which is a unique storytelling program that takes you from the days of the Lewis & Clark Expedition at the rainy and cold Pacific Coast in 1805, to the days of the Oregon Trail and pioneer settlement, and concluding on the slopes of Mount Hood in the early 1900's.

The "Oregon Trail Heritage Day" is a festive Sunday afternoon gathering for adults and children alike. This year's annual festivity will not be the typical Christmas event. Instead, the stories of the pioneers during this holiday season will merge together with traditional Native American flute music.

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Flute-makers and performers from the "Wy'East Flute Circle" will gather together in "Echo Lodge", the Cascade Geographic Society's storytelling lodge. Throughout this event, they will be performing traditional Native American flute music on flutes that they have actually fashioned themselves out of wood.

The main feature, however, is "Christmas Tales From Old Oregon", a unique storytelling program that takes you from the days of the Lewis & Clark Expedition at the rainy and cold Pacific Coast in 1805, to the days of the Oregon Trail and pioneer settlement, and concluding on the slopes of Mount Hood around 1906. Storyteller Michael P. Jones willallow the audience to venture back into time, as his tales make this holiday history come alive with these little known tales that seemingly have been forgotten by the passage of time.

There will be free Christmas goodies and hot drinks available for those who attend. And, then, naturally, there will be a delightful visit from Santa Claus who will brave the inclement weather of Mount Hood's infamous Oregon Trail, known as the Barlow Trail, and provide a touch of sparkle and magic to the festivities.

For additional information on Christmas Along The Barlow Trail, please contact the Cascade Geographic Society at Post Office Box 398, Rhododendron, Oregon 97049; or, call (503) 622-4798. Also, please take the time to check out our website: members.tripod.com/cgs-mthood for any last minute changes or updates. Or, prior to December 1st, email us at: cgsmthood@onemain.com.

Cascade Geographic Society's

www.members.tripod.com/cgs-mthood

Cascade Geographic Society, an educational non-profit, staffed by volunteers who believe in the preservation of Oregon history and hands-on education. P.O.Box 398, Rhododendron, OR 97049 503-622-4798

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